PHILLIES: Lannan heads for DL

PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies are going to be without John Lannan in the starting rotation, and it could be for a while.

The left-hander, who was shellacked for six runs and didn’t make it out of the second inning in Wednesday’s 11-2 loss to the Reds, was placed on the 15-day disabled list Thursday with a strained quadriceps ligament in his left knee. The injury arose in his previous start, then acted up as he faced the first batter in the bottom of the first Wednesday. The result was a series of pitches that sailed high and away to right-handers, as he couldn’t get a proper push off the rubber.

Charlie Manuel said that the injury could cause Lannan to miss up to eight weeks, a figure Ruben Amaro Jr. confirmed.

“We just don’t want to risk further injury (to Lannan),” Amaro said. “If we push him and continue to pitch him, and he ruptures it, then that can be a serious long-term issue. We want to try and stay away from it.”

How the Phillies will fill that opening Monday is somewhat known -- it will be one of three right-handers at Triple-A Lehigh Valley on the 40-man roster, Tyler Cloyd, Jonathan Pettibone or Ethan Martin.

Although the best pitcher at Triple-A both this month and during spring training has been left-hander Adam Morgan (1-0, 1.42 ERA in three starts), the third-round pick in 2011 needs to be added to the protected roster and pitched Thursday afternoon in Pawtucket (5 IP, 1 ER in a no-decision). That would require him pitching on three days’ rest Monday, and the Phils almost certainly aren’t going there with the 23-year-old.

That doesn’t mean Morgan is eliminated from the long-range assessment.

“That can be kind of a day-to-day thing,” Amaro said of the initial starting pitcher promoted. “We’re trying to assess who we will bring to the big leagues at first, then see how that person performs. If that person performs well, then we’ll stay with him. A lot depends on how the guy throws.

“(Morgan) is a guy we have to consider at some point. But it’s not a panic mode.”

“We probably will make a move (Friday) -- probably a reliever to cover us for a few days. Obviously we’ll have to have someone pitch in (Lannan’s) slot (Monday), so we’ll bring someone up then.”

The reliever choice would seem to have Justin DeFratus (seven scoreless IP at Lehigh Valley) having the edge, although the best reliever in Triple-A during the first two weeks has been lefty Joe Savery (7.2 IP, 2 H, 0 BB, 11 K). Both RHP Michael Stutes and LHP Jake Diekman have gotten to lousy starts for the Iron Pigs.

***The injury news was better for Domonic Brown, who left Wednesday’s game with a lower back injury. An X-ray showed no issues, and the left fielder seemed to be free and clear of any lingering pain when he arrived at the ballpark Thursday.

Still, Charlie Manuel decided to give Brown the night off and started Freddy Galvis in left field, his first outfield start in the majors.

“The trainer said he was OK, Manuel said of Brown, “but at the same time, I don’t want to put him out there and have to take him out of the game again. Last night he came to me and said he couldn’t go, so I figure maybe I should use a little caution with him.”